I started getting into cars around the time that the Bugatti Veyron tore free from its restraints and hit the roads. Back then, that car just seemed dizzyingly insane. Everything about it was far beyond what I’d seen before. It had not one, but two V8 engines corseted together into a W16. It could hit 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. Its top speed saw the 200 mph mark and didn’t just break it, it smashed it into tiny, pitiful smithereens. Then, there was that fateful figure that was touted everywhere. This car wasn’t just powerful. It wasn’t another 500 horsepower Ferrari or Lamborghini, heaven forfend. This car generated 1000 horsepower.

At the time, that seemed almost impossible to me. While, of course, tuners and rodders had been able to get more than that in the past, it remained almost unfathomable. Now, we’re here, and I’m wiser (in some ways, at least). Something I love about the restomod community, is that it sees achievements that took Bugatti years to achieve with a massive crew, and just proceeds to outdo them. While 1000 horsepower+ power outputs aren’t common in customs, they do happen, thanks to determined guys in garages. In this article, I’m going to take a look at ten of the best restomods that have been able to hit 1000+ horsepower, without shredding themselves to bits or killing their drivers.

1964 Ford Galaxie

The Ford Galaxie is a legendary automobile, and for good reason. A rambunctious, full-sized auto from Ford’s glory days, in its stock form, it’s a luxurious reminder of what motoring used to mean. As with most classics, however, it is lacking a certain something these days: power. This lowriding restomod fixes that issue consummately. A project which seems to disregard the idea of ground clearance, it’s absolutely stunning. Keen-eyed observers may notice the rude protrusion on the Galaxie’s hood. It’s not just for show, a callback to the days of hot rodding, no. This car packs a 482 twin-turbo big-block Ford V8, which has been coaxed into producing 1100 horsepower.

With so much power at its disposal, it’s crucial that the car handle well, and luckily, a Pro Street-style cage has been fitted to limit body roll. Inside, you won’t find any of the niceties of the original, with the interior being stripped down to bare metal. This project was made with one thing in mind: power, and that’s why it’s on this list. Brash, bonkers, and beautiful: what more could you ask for?